Overview
Isabel Padilla Carlo (she/her/ella) is a dance scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University. At the intersection of memory and body studies, Isabel’s research examines how dance and performance play a role in challenging or reinforcing particular social imaginaries in the Hispanophone Caribbean, helping shape collective identity on the archipelago and the diaspora. During the pursuit of her degree, Isabel hopes to broaden access to dance historiography, underscoring its importance in cultural studies as an agent of social change and community healing.
Before commencing her graduate studies at Cornell, Isabel attained a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Writing and Communications at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM). During her undergraduate career, Isabel formed part of the Ballet Escenario dance company, served as a chief editor for Sábanas Bilingual Literary Magazine, and managed the UPRM English Department’s website. Isabel also participated in The Library of Congress Internships Program (LOCI) in 2021 and the Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars Program (MICHHERS) in 2022. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Isabel presented “Léeme la cuerpa: Queer Laziness and the Body Politics of El perreo combativo” at the 2022 Puerto Rican Studies Association conference.